The best word to describe the Dutch physician, Cornelius Moerman, would be
"steadfast." He withstood the strongest opposition of his colleagues during his
entire professional life. Even today in the Netherlands, his name remains
symbolic, forever connected to nutritional therapy, especially of cancer. Prior
to World War II, Dr. Moerman published his view that cancer is not a local
disease, but the tumor is the end stage of the deterioration of the total body.
Strengthening the immune system, he said, is the answer to this disease, and
nutrition plays the central role.

Moerman, a passionate pigeon-fancier, observed that healthy birds did not
develop cancer, whereas the weak and malnourished ones did. He argued, based on
his own experiments with his pigeons, that cancer was a derangement of
metabolism, a deficiency of iodine, citric acid, B-vitamins, iron, sulphur, and
the vitamins A, D, E and later C. A strictly proper diet, supplemented with
these substances, forms the basis of the Moerman therapy.

Cutting-edge nutritional science has now caught up with Dr. Moerman's
viewpoint. His principles for the treatment of cancer were, at the time,
revolutionary. In September, 1976, Moerman was invited by Linus Pauling to the
conference of the International Association of Cancer Victors and Friends in Los
Angeles. As the guest of honour, Moerman received an award for his valuable work
with cancer patients and for his original approach to the treatment of cancer.
Meeting Moerman, Dr. Linus Pauling praised him and considered him to be one of
his peers in the fight for the acceptance of nutritional medicine.